Basketball - After Ejection, Josh Smith Makes Obscene

As he left for the locker room after being ejected from the game in the second quarter, Atlanta forward Josh Smith made obscene gestures to the crowd. This was during Atlanta’s game against Charlotte.

Smith raised both his middle fingers to the crowd while he was halfway into the tunnel. The gestures were in reaction to the heckling by the fans. Smith was not in the locker room after the game which was won by Charlottle 104-85. However, coach Mike Woodson informed that he had spoken to Smith after the game.

Woodson insists that he did not see the obscene gestures and that he would have to look at the tape just like the NBA. Woodson thinks that the NBA will act accordingly meting out the relevant punishment if Smith actually made obscene gestures.

Smith was upset at being called for an offensive foul. He was given a technical foul late in the second quarter. However, Smith continued to argue about the technical foul and are immediately given a second technical and was ejected from the game.

Prior to making the obscene gestures, Smith kicked a pile of jerseys and towels behind the bench and sending them flying in all directions. Woodson opined that Smith should not put himself in a situation where he loses his cool like he apparently did.

In the last two months, Smith is the second Atlanta professional athlete who has made obscene gestures to fans.

In November 2006, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick also raised both his middle fingers to Atlanta fans for heckling him as he left the field after losing the game to New Orleans. Vick apologized for the incident and paid a fine of $10,000 and donated $10,000 to charity.